Recent opinion polls suggest 70 per cent of French people support a ban on smoking in public places.
Last Update: Monday, October 9, 2006. 9:44am (AEST)

France to ban smoking in public

Smoking will be banned in all public places in France from next February.

Smoking is a well-known French past time but the Prime Minister, Dominque de Villepin, says smoking kills more than 13 people a day in France.

He called it an "unacceptable reality".

He has announced a ban on smoking in public places including train stations, museums, government offices and shops, but not on streets or in private places such as houses or hotel rooms.

Cafes, nightclubs and restaurants will be given until January 2008 to adapt to the new rules.

Those found in breach of the ban will be given fines - $130 for individuals and $250 for the premises where the offence occurred.

Recent opinion polls in France suggest 70 per cent of people support the ban.